Skip to main content

REVIEW: 'James Bond: Agent of Spectre' #1 by Christos Cage, Luca Casalanguida, and Heather Moore

AGENT OF SPECTRE Part 1! There's a civil war brewing within SPECTRE. An upstart American member of the international criminal organization is attempting a coup, threatening to depose Ernst Stavro Blofeld. She's on guard against Blofeld's men, so to take her out, Blofeld recruits a wild card - James Bond! 


With Blofeld threatening the life of Bond's friend Felix Leiter as leverage, Bond agrees...but he has a plan to use this internal strife to bring SPECTRE down once and for all. Will he succeed, or is this a dark path from which even 007 can't return?

JAMES BOND: AGENT OF SPECTRE #1

Writer: Christos Cage

Artist: Luca Casalanguida

Colors: Heather Moore

Letters: Simon Bowland

Editor: Matt Idelson

Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment

Release Date: March 3, 2021

Cover Price: $3.99

Score:

★★★★☆ (4/5)

While the movie franchise of James Bond may be on hold due to the pandemic, Dynamite Entertainment is coming through with some classic 007 action in comic book form. The requisite opening action scene finds Bond in deep water but also reveals some important intel nonetheless. 

Yes, the title and solicitation kind of give away the premise the first issue sets in motion but it's so smoothly conceived that you won't mind going through the details to find out more. Christos Cage introduces us to an older but resilient Bond who's about to be in the middle of a Spectre civil war. It's not of his choosing because the classic villain Blofeld, imposing and dangerous, literally makes him an offer he can't refuse. With so much at stake, it's wild to imagine Bond working for Spectre but it's the perfect set-up for a potentially dramatic globe-trotting adventure. 

Blofeld steals the issue with such a convincing and conniving monologue that corners Bond into a seemingly inescapable compromise. As much as you love to hate Bond villains, you'll find yourself actually agreeing with Blofeld's reasoning. It's framed as a win-win for both of them. Bond eliminates a threat to both Blofeld and MI-6. What could go wrong?

And speaking of classic, Luca Casalanguida and Heather Moore, create a world that feels timeless with tough guy designs and muted colours. It could be almost any time period and that helps transport the reader fully into the story. The action scenes are well choreographed albeit short but again, Blofeld is made to look and sound menacing and it totally works to give the proceedings the weight it requires. 

'James Bond: Agent of Spectre' #1 is the perfect appetizer for Bond fans as they wait for the next film. They can feast on this beautifully written and illustrated new series that's lean and mean. It sets the table for some intriguing spy action to come. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

PREVIEW: THE ART OF INVINCIBLE SEASON ONE Companion Hardcover Offers a Behind the Scenes Look at the Hit Series

  Today Skybound debuted an all-new look at  The Art of Invincible Season One,  the behind-the-scenes companion to Prime Video’s hit animated series,  Invincible.  This hardcover marks the first animation artbook produced by Skybound Entertainment for the landmark franchise’s jump to television and will be available everywhere books are sold on March 27, 2024.     The Art of Invincible Season One  features never-before-seen production art, and exclusive commentary on the hit Prime Video series from key creatives, including  Invincible  comic co-creators Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker. Superfans of the hit animated series will be happy to find exclusive characters, backgrounds, vehicle designs, key art, and more inside this volume!    The critically acclaimed adult animated superhero series is currently airing the first half of its eight-episode second season on Prime Video, with new episodes airing weekly on #...

PREVIEW: 'Fire and Ice: Teegra' One-Shot by Bill Willingham and Gabriele Di Caro

 FIRE AND ICE: TEEGRA writer: Bill Willingham artist: Gabriele Di Caro covers: Dan Panosian (A), Meghan Hetrick (B) FC | 40 pages | Fantasy | $5.99 | Teen+  In Stores February 28, 2024 When you go to war against the dark forces of the frozen north, there are some things you can’t do without — like warriors, weapons, and the will to fight. You also need strong allies if you want to have any hope of victory. But how do you cement the kind of alliances that help to win wars? Well, if you have a daughter of marriageable age, a strategic betrothal might be a good way to go. And that’s just what King Jarol of Firekeep has in mind for his beautiful, headstrong daughter, Teegra. But what happens when the eligible princes of many kingdoms line up to compete for fair Teegra’s hand, only to find that the promised princess is suddenly nowhere to be found? Find out this February in a story we almost called “Teegra’s Big Run”! Renowned writer BILL WILLINGHAM and fan-favorite ar...

All-New “Superman” Merchandise Available with Debut of the DC Studios Trailer

The teaser trailer for “Superman” has landed, and with it, the DC Shop is offering new merch available worldwide, all with bespoke graphics created just for the occasion. Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products (WBDGCP) has launched an expanded merchandise range inspired by the upcoming DC Studios film “Superman,” directed by James Gunn. This collection coincides with the film’s teaser trailer release and will be in theaters and IMAX on July 11, 2025, with international releases starting July 9, 2025. Available now at DC Sho p and Hot Topic in North America and online in several countries, the collection includes premium posters, apparel, home decor, and accessories. DC Shop exclusives feature items with the new teaser art and tagging, alongside Fortress of Solitude-themed apparel. Prices range from $25 to $69. Superman | Official Teaser Trailer “Superman,” the first feature film from DC Studios, is set to debut in theaters this summer, produced by Warner Bros. Pic...